Context
Lesotho is considered the water tower of Southern Africa and agriculture is the backbone of the local economy. However, a cycle of population growth, environmental degradation, poverty, climate change and food insecurity have forced people into previously uninhabited areas like wetlands and mountain slopes. These practices have contributed to higher pressure on local resources, unsustainable practices in land use, loss of local customs and ancient traditions. As a result, the country has suffered severe land degradation that threatens traditional herding culture and livelihoods. The consequences are alarming: ? Lesotho?s annual depletion of natural resources is 5.9% of GNI ? Erosion leads to an annual topsoil loss of more than 2% ? The significant reduction in arable land increases food insecurity, reduces livelihood opportunities.
As a result South Africa exports of meat and edible meat offal to Lesotho was US$38.71 Million during 2019, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. South Africa exports of meat and edible meat offal to Lesotho - data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on March of 2021. ? Source Trading Economics.
Sustaining livestock farming in the Mountains, Foothills and Senqu River valley Regions requires transformation. The urgent challenge is to identify new and sustainable opportunities that can enhance the resilience of mountain peoples and environments. Currently there is no formal branding for Lesotho milk and red meat products in the country. Investments and technical support are needed to diversify and boost mountain livestock production systems and improving the competitiveness of Lesotho mountain food systems and red meat and milk value chains.
RSDA proposes to apply agro-ecology approach to the red meat and milk value chain. All actors ? herders, farmers, practitioners, scientific experts and advocates contributing to or producing, processing and consuming food that includes environmental, social and economic concerns will be involved. The output of the intervention will be Narrative labeling concept of the slow food Movement on two livestock value chains -red meat and milk. Outcome of the intervention is to contribute to the transitioning of the food system in Lesotho and the agricultural supply chains in their entirety but also consumers.
Project Objectives
To diversify and boost mountain livestock production systems and improving the competitiveness of Lesotho mountain food systems and red meat and milk value chains; with eh specific objective of undertaking baseline activities to inform development of a full project proposal and subsequent implementation of the project once approved. Envisaged activities will include among others:
? Organize community and engage technical assistance
? Establish a Forum for Narrative Label for Livestock Products from Lesotho Mountains
? Co create the narrative label and initiate implementation of the labels
? Monitor the uptake of the products with narrative labels